Compare towns
Sunapee vs Jackson vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sunapee | Jackson | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
897Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Lowest 31% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Jackson and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Jackson and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Jackson and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Jackson School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.